Patrick Shaw-Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Houston Shaw-Stewart
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 17 August 1888 near Llanbedr, Merionethshire, Wales
|
| Died | 30 December 1917 (aged 29) |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Resting place | Metz-en-Couture, France |
| Monuments | Memorial at Balliol College Chapel, Oxford |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Employer | Barings Bank |
|
Notable work
|
"Achilles in the Trench" (poem) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Unit | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
Patrick Houston Shaw-Stewart (born August 17, 1888 – died December 30, 1917) was a very smart writer and poet from a time called the Edwardian era. He died while serving as a leader in the Royal Naval Division during the First World War. He is most famous for his poem "Achilles in the Trench," which is one of the most well-known war poems from that time.
Contents
Patrick's Early Life and Education
Patrick Shaw-Stewart was born in Aber Artro Hall. This place is near Llanbedr in Merionethshire, Wales. His father was Major-General John Heron Maxwell Shaw-Stewart, a military engineer. His mother was Mary Catherine Bedingfeld Shaw-Stewart.
When Patrick was young, his parents separated. He was mostly raised by a nanny. He always called her "dear." Patrick had a striking look. He had bright ginger hair and pale, freckled skin. He also had a long nose.
A Brilliant Student
Patrick was incredibly smart and determined to succeed. He came in first place for the Eton scholarship in 1901. This was a year after his friend, Ronald Knox, also won the same award. In 1905, he won the Newcastle Scholarship at Eton.
At Oxford University, he won many awards for his studies in Classics. He earned top grades in his exams in 1908 and 1910. He was chosen for a special fellowship at All Souls' College, Oxford. However, he decided to work at Barings Bank instead. This was because it offered a lot of money. In 1913, he became one of the youngest managing directors in the bank's history.
Serving in World War I
When World War I began in 1914, Patrick joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He served with the Royal Naval Division. This is where he met another famous poet, Rupert Brooke.
A Poet's Funeral
Patrick was present at Rupert Brooke's burial. This took place on the island of Skyros in Greece. Patrick was in charge of the firing party at the funeral. He was deeply affected by his role in the young poet's burial.
He felt a strong desire to be in the main fighting areas. He used his charm and influence to get to the front lines. While on the island of Imbros, he enjoyed speaking ancient Greek with the local people. He wrote in a letter that he was "talking the language of Demosthenes to the inhabitants." He thought they were quite good at understanding him.
Gallipoli and Beyond
Patrick was part of the Gallipoli campaign. This was his first time in real combat. His letters home showed that he was becoming frustrated with the war. He also felt disappointed by it.
After the Allied forces left the Dardanelles, he was sent to Salonika. There, he worked with the French army. In 1916, he received two important awards from France. He was given the Cross of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour. Later that year, he also received the Croix de Guerre. These awards were for his valuable service.
Return to the Front Line
During 1917, Patrick felt he wasn't doing much useful work in Salonika. He missed his friends in the Royal Naval Division. He asked several times to be moved to France, but his requests were denied.
So, while on leave in England, he left without permission. He rejoined his old battalion in France. He was promoted to lieutenant commander. He was also temporarily in command of the Hood Battalion.
On December 30, 1917, Patrick was killed in France. He was walking along a sunken road behind the trenches. A shell fragment hit him in the mouth, and he died almost instantly. He is buried at Metz-en-Couture in France.
Patrick's Famous Poem
Patrick's fame today comes from one of his poems. It is called "Achilles in the Trench." This is one of the most famous war poems from the First World War.
He wrote it while waiting to fight at Gallipoli. He was on leave on the island of Imbros. From there, he could see Hisarlik, which is the site of the ancient city of Troy. In the poem, Patrick mentions the Iliad many times. He asks, "Was it so hard, Achilles,/So very hard to die?"
He also uses wordplay in the poem. He connects "hell" and "Helen." This is similar to wordplay in an ancient Greek play. In the last part of the poem, he describes Achilles screaming from the walls of Troy. This happens after Achilles' friend, Patroclus, dies. Patrick asks Achilles to shout for him during the battle too.
Remembering Patrick Shaw-Stewart
The first book about Patrick Shaw-Stewart was written by Ronald Knox. It was published in 1920. A book by Elizabeth Vandiver, Stand in the Trench, Achilles, also talks a lot about Patrick. A new book about him by Miles Jebb came out in 2010.
A special memorial for him was put up at Balliol College, Oxford. It is on the west wall of the Chapel passage. His name is also on the war memorial at All Souls College, Oxford. You can also find his name on the war memorial in the Knockbain parish in Scotland.
See also
